Lightning bug catching contestCaughman’s Corner Preschool held its annual Lightning Bug Catching contest recently. It was an exciting and fun family activity that ended the children’s study of backyard creatures. Winners this year were Wyatt Hankins (tied for second place with 140), Bryley Ketchum (fourth place with 44), Nash Poore (first place with 167), Braelynn Freeman and Lainee Ivey (tied for second place with 140) and Raelynn Ward (third place with 118). Prizes were ...

New trails opened in RussellvilleTwo trails in Russellville were dedicated Tuesday and ceremoniously opened to the public with ribbon cuttings, marking a milestone that is only one of many in the ongoing Russellville Connected Trail System. “The original objective of this plan that started back in 2010 was to connect parks, schools, areas in towns like playgrounds, boys and girls clubs, the depot, shopping areas and Arkansas Tech through an expansive trail system,” Recreation...

Proposed early migratory bird hunting seasons discussedSPRINGDALE — Commissioners with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission last week discussed this year’s proposed dove season dates at its monthly meeting in Springdale. Early-season migratory game bird season selections must be reported to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by Aug. 1. Approval for the early seasons will take place during the Commission’s July meeting. Changes from last season are minor. • Mourning Dove and Eurasian Collared Dove...

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Courier Sports StaffThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

A Cyclone legend rememberedThe decade of the 1930s was a tough period for America as it struggled through the Great Depression. But the rough economic times, made even rougher by an extended drought that covered much of the western half of the country, in turn produced some of the best football players of any era. One such player was Russellville’s Firmon Woodson Bynum who would have turned 99 on Aug. 1. The son of a coal miner, Firmon Bynum grew up working in the mines...

‘A pleasure to work for’When people have to call 911, they are almost always in a life-or-death situation. The man or woman on the other end of that call, inside the Pope County Emergency Communications center, must be able to perform more than one task while communicating with the caller and emergency services. They must be professional as well as provide a calm, collective voice for those who need emergency services. Many employees or members of an organization are...

Pope County issues first same-sex marriage licenseThe Pope County Clerk's office issued its first same-sex marriage license at 12:15 p.m. Friday following the United States Supreme Court's ruling that same-sex couples have a right to marry anywhere in the United States. County Clerk Laura McGuire said the clerk's office is under oath to obey and uphold the law. "Therefore, I will be issuing gender-neutral marriage licenses," she said. "We don't buy into political parties. No matter what we be...

Obama health care law survives second Supreme Court fightAssociated Press WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court sent a clear message Thursday that President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul is here to stay, rejecting a major challenge that would have imperiled the landmark law and health insurance for millions of Americans. Whether you call it the Affordable Care Act, Obamacare, or in the words of a dissenting justice, SCOTUScare, Obama’s signature domestic achievement is, as the president himself put i...

Confederate heritage group loses influenceBy JEFFREY COLLINS Associated Press COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The Sons of Confederate Veterans knew an attack on their cherished symbols would come after seeing photos of the white man accused of killing nine black churchgoers displaying Confederate battle flags. They just didn’t expect it from their right flank. Leland Summers, the group’s leader in South Carolina, now feels betrayed by the same Republicans who courted their loyalties for decades...

Cleaning up with the mayorStudents in kindergarten through fifth grade participating in this year’s Summer Enrichment program at the Russellville School District spent Wednesday morning at M.J. Hickey Park picking up trash with Russellville Mayor Randy Horton.

RHS players thrive in All-Star contestRussellville Lady Cyclones head volleyball coach Cindy Jones has been busy. Last week, Russellville hosted a youth volleyball camp inside Cyclone Gymnasium. Jones attended the Arkansas Democrat Gazette’s All-Prep’s banquet on Saturday, before watching two of her players in the 2015 Senior All-Star game in Conway on Wednesday. Jones followed that by speaking during a coaching clinic in Morrilton on Thursday. “It’s been very busy,” she said. “Bu...

Firework safetyWith the Fourth of July right around the corner, it’s almost time to celebrate America's birthday, most likely with fireworks. According to the Russellville Fire Department and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), each July Fourth thousands of people, often children and teens, are injured while using consumer fireworks. So it’s best to follow exact precautions and current ordinances in place. Within the Russellville city limits, an...

A spoonful of musical sugarResidents age 5-75 will take the stage tonight and each following night until Monday for a home-grown production of the musical "Mary Poppins" as The River Valley Arts Center’s annual summer musical production. Amy Tarpley, arts center director, said about 80 people from across the Arkansas River Valley will act and work as crew members for the musical, which the nonprofit center puts on each summer to engage the community in its productions. ...

Cinema to show ‘Maleficent’The Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce (RACC) will show Disney’s “Maleficent” as the June 26 Sunset Cinema feature presentation. Sponsor activities, including games and snacks, begin at 6:30 p.m. and the movie begins shortly after sundown. In case of inclement weather, the movie and activities will be moved into the L.V. Williamson Boys’ and Girls’ Club Gymnasium, and the activities will begin at 7 p.m. Sunset Cinema is open to the public, ...

The Eagle RidersThe Eagle Riders of Russellville at the Fraternal Order of Eagles #3988 hosted a pancake breakfast in April with proceeds from the event going to the Arkansas Children’s Hospital burn unit.

Bond hearingsThe following individuals appeared during felony bond hearings Wednesday at the Pope County Detention Center. Their names, ages, anticipated charges and bond amounts are listed. If charged, they will appear Aug. 3 in Pope County Circuit Court. Brian Flud, 31, third-degree domestic battery — $15,000. On Monday, Flud and a London woman were allegedly at the London police chief’s residence fighting while intoxicated, according to a report. The sa...

Mini-storage facility permit approvedRussellville’s Planning Commission approved one item for the City Council to consider and tabled action on another item during Monday’s regular meeting at City Hall. Commissioners conducted a public hearing requesting review and approved a recommendation for a special-use permit to allow a mini-storage facility in the 3800 block of East Main Street. The request was submitted by Richard Van Ohlen. A request to rezone property from R-1 (single f...

Governor open to bids for education test providerLITTLE ROCK — Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Tuesday he’s open to Arkansas considering multiple proposals from standardized testing companies after he ordered education officials to drop out of an assessment linked to the Common Core standards. A day after directing state officials to withdraw from the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers Consortium, the Republican governor said he believed there was time to issue a reques...

Plaisance taken into custodyA Dover man was arrested by Arkansas State Police at a residence near London on Monday night after fleeing law enforcement during a traffic stop Friday. Thomas Irvin Plaisance, 38, was taken into custody by ASP Trooper Chris Goodman after 10 p.m. Monday and is incarcerated at the Pope County Detention Center, where he is expected to have a bond hearing today. According to a story by Ryan Smith in Tuesday’s edition of The Courier, Plaisance was...

The Sign Hub ribbon cuttingThe Sign Hub ribbon cutting The Sign Hub recently celebrated its relocation to 1224 East 14th Street in Russellville with a ribbon cutting on June 4. The business specializes in banner printing, vehicle wrapping and signage. For more information, call 479-747-6785.

Pizza delivery man robbed at gunpoint Russellville police officers responded to the 300 block of Lock and Dam Road at approximately 9:53 p.m. on Monday in response to an alleged armed robbery. When officers arrived on scene, they determined that three black males, one armed with a firearm, robbed a pizza delivery man and fled the scene before officers arrived, according to a Russellville Police Department (RPD) press release. Anyone with any information on this incident is asked t...